This page describes one of the characteristics of [[User base|the broad range of users]] for whom we should target our distribution.

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This page describes one of the characteristics of [[User:Pfrields/User base|the broad range of users]] for whom we should target our distribution.

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{{admon/note | No proprietary software| Fedora does not include or support proprietary or patent encumbered software. Non-technical users should be aware of this when evaluating Fedora}}

== General productivity user ==

== General productivity user ==

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* Communicating via messaging

* Communicating via messaging

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Users should reasonably expect to have a substantially different experience after installing, or upgrading to, a new Fedora release. Users should expect that for the lifecycle of that operating system, they'll receive updates that fix specific problems and protect the security of their system. Users shouldn't expect to have their environment change substantially as a result of those updates, other than to resolve specific bugs.

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Users should reasonably expect to have a substantially different experience after installing, or upgrading to, a new Fedora release. Users install or upgrade because they expect something different and hopefully improved at the end of the process. Therefore we should avoid regressions from release to release overall, and those changes that do happen should be well documented so users know what to expect before, during, and after a new release installation or upgrade. But installation and upgrading are not known to impact productivity because the user engages in them by choice.

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One of Fedora's [[objectives]] is to remain close to upstream releases, but that doesn't imply a stable release of Fedora should track each new upstream release, especially when doing so would alter the user experience beyond fixing bugs or security problems. Changes of this nature disrupt the user's accustomed environment and encourage users to doubt the stability of the system and the Fedora Project's ability to manage it.

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When the user does not choose that path, though, we should take care not to inflict those effects on the user. Accustomization is part of the user's comfort with the system, no matter what the skill level. Unexpected changes disrupt the user's accustomed environment and might cause doubt in the stability of the system and the Fedora Project's ability to manage it.

Latest revision as of 19:55, 30 May 2011

No proprietary softwareFedora does not include or support proprietary or patent encumbered software. Non-technical users should be aware of this when evaluating Fedora

General productivity user

We expect the majority of users to be interested in a set of general productivity tasks. These tasks are usually non-technical in nature. They involve communication and the creation, storage, location, and viewing of content. They are common to both novice and experts alike, and we should deliver a platform that allows users to engage in these tasks without interruption or disruption. Processes that interrupt or disrupt the user while engaging in these tasks should be minimized, and if possible, eliminated. These tasks might include:

Logging in to the system

Navigating local resources

Browsing the web

Creating, storing, and viewing a variety of functional documents

Locating and viewing/playing media

Sending and receiving email

Communicating via messaging

Users should reasonably expect to have a substantially different experience after installing, or upgrading to, a new Fedora release. Users install or upgrade because they expect something different and hopefully improved at the end of the process. Therefore we should avoid regressions from release to release overall, and those changes that do happen should be well documented so users know what to expect before, during, and after a new release installation or upgrade. But installation and upgrading are not known to impact productivity because the user engages in them by choice.

When the user does not choose that path, though, we should take care not to inflict those effects on the user. Accustomization is part of the user's comfort with the system, no matter what the skill level. Unexpected changes disrupt the user's accustomed environment and might cause doubt in the stability of the system and the Fedora Project's ability to manage it.